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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi this week approved six Oklahoma schools to be nominated as 2012 Blue Ribbon Schools. She also recognized 13 schools as Academic Achievement Award Schools, accompanied by checks ranging from more than $61,000 to almost $25,000. And she recognized three schools as Distinguished Award Schools, two at the national level and one at the state level.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi has been invited to give testimony Thursday to the Kansas State House Education Committee about Oklahoma’s progress in passing and implementing conservative education reforms.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi will mark her support of National School Choice Week by participating in a panel discussion about Oklahoma school choice opportunities to be held Jan. 24 at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma State Board of Education met Jan. 26, 2012, adopting a resolution to fully support Superintendent Janet Barresi's goal of having all students in Oklahoma college, career and citizen ready by the year 2020. Board member Joy Hofmeister, of Tulsa, was sworn in. The board revoked the teaching certificate of Kimberly Crain, a former third-grade teacher in McLoud. The board also adopted several new alternatives to help students meet Achieving Classroom Excellence requirements.

Choice is good for children, whether it be public, charter, digital or non-public schools. Every parent should have the choice to select the school that best meets the needs of their child, regardless of address or income level.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi announces a digital pilot program with Apangea Learning Inc. that is expected to significantly help students statewide who are struggling in Algebra 1.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi observes the first National Digital Learning Day by announcing two new online learning partnerships for the state of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Educational Television Authority and SAS Curriculum Pathways will offer thousands of free online resources and lesson plans to students, teachers and families throughout Oklahoma.